Pocketknife



Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

' UNITED STATES I 1,549,545 PATENT OFFICE.

MANUEL HICKMAN, OF SAN JUAN, TEXAS.

rooxnrxmrn.

Application filed November 11, 1824. Serial No. 749,131.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANUEL HICKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Juan, in the county of Hidalgo and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Pocketknife, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in knives and has reference more particularly to a pocket knife wherein the blade of the knife may be entirely concealed when the knife is not in use for preventing the person carrying the knife in his pocket from sustaining any injury.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knife wherein means is provided in connection with the blade for providing a handle therefor when it is desired to use the knife, the means further adapted to provide a casing for concealing the blade when the knife is not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knife of the above mentioned character, which may be readily and easily operated for rendering the same operative or inoperative as the case may be, the knife being simple in construction, inexpensive,

strong and durable and furthermore adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the knife blade concealed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the k blade ready for use.

Figure 3 is an elevational view showing the blade partly concealed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View of the locking device forming a part of the present invention.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the blade of my improved knife, the shank thereof being indicated at 2. Pivotally connected to the shank 2 of the blade 1 at their outer ends are a pair of channel members 3 and 4 respectively. The pivotal connections between the outer ends of the channel members 3 "and 4 and the shank 2 of the blade 1 are indicatedat 5 and 6 respectively.

Cooperating with the channel members 3 and 4 are a similar pair of channel members 7 and 8 respectively. The channel members 7 and 8 are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the inner ends of the channel members 3 and 4 as illustrated at 9 and 10 respectively in the drawing with reference more particularly to Figure 3. The channel members 7 and 8 are further of suchsize as to permit the channel members 3 and 4 to be disposed within the same when a handle is formed for the blade in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

The outer ends of the channel members 7 and 8 are pivotally secured to the outer ends of a pair of spaced plates 11 and 12 respectively, the pivotal connections for the outer ends of the channel members 7 and 8 and the plates being shown at 13 and 14 respectively. The spaced plates 11 and 12 are disposed on the opposite side of the blade 1 and provides a guide to permit the sliding movement of the blade therebetween in the manner hereinafter to be more fully described. As is clearly illustrated in the drawing, the channel members 3 and 7 are disposed adjacent the cutting edge of the blade while the channel members 4 and 8 are disposed adjacent the rear edge of the blade.

When the channel members are in an extended position in the manner shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, a casing is provided whereby the blade 1 will be entirely concealed therein and for the purpose of looking the channel members in an extended position to prevent the accidental opening of the casing, I provide a locking member such as is clearly shown in Figure 5 and designated generally by the numeral 15. The same comprising a strip of metal, the ends of which are disposed laterall in opposite directions as shown at 16 and 1 respectively in the drawing. The lateral extension 16 is pivotally secured to the side of the channel member 8 as illustrated at 18, the intermediate portion of the strip extending across the top of the channel members 7 and 8 and the lateral extension 17 engaging the side of the channel member 7 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The lateral extension 17 furthermore provides a handle whereby the locking member may be readily disengaged from the channel member.

\Vhen the knife blade is entirely concealed within the channel member, the same may be carried around in the pocket without any danger of the person sustaining an injury. Whenever it is desired to use the knife, the lateral extension 17 of the locking member 15 is disengaged from the side of the channel member 7 and by moving the channel members 7 and 8 rearwardly, the channel members 3 and 4 and 7 and 8 respectively will have their inner adjacent ends moved outwardly in opposite directions so that the blade 1 will slide between the plates 11 and 12 forming a guide therefor and by further moving the channel members 7 and 8 rearwardly, the channel members 3 and 4 will be disposed within the channel members 7 and 8 respectively and by swinging the same on the pivots 5 and 6 a handle for the blade will be formed in the man ner clearly shown in Figure 2. Upon the formation of the handle. the locking member 15 is again moved in position so that the lateral extension 17 will engage the sideof the channel member 7 whereby the handle thus formed will be prevented from becoming disassembled.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that a knife has been provided which may be carried by campers, tourists, in such a manner as to permit the handle for the knife blade to be actuated in such a manner as to provide a means for concealing the knife blade.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 2-- 1. A knife comprising a blade, two pairs of channel members pivotally connected together at their adjacent ends, the outer ends of one pair being pivotally secured to the shank of the blade, a guide connected to the outer ends of the other pair, said blade adapted to slide through said guide, said channels providing a casing for concealing the blade when in one position and further providing a handle for the blade when in another position.

2. A knife comprising a blade, two pairs of channel members pivotally connected together at their adjacent ends, the outer ends of one pair being pivotally secured to the shank of the blade, a guide connected to the outer ends of the other pair, said blade adapted to'slide through said guide, said channels providing a casing for concealing the blade when in one position and further providing a handle for the blade when in another position, and means for locking the channel members when in either position.

3. A knife comprising a blade, two pairs of channel members pivotally connected together at their adjacent ends, the outer ends of one pair being pivotally secured to the shank of the blade, a pair of spaced plates disposed on the opposite sides of the blade and being pivotally connected at their outer ends to the outer ends to the other pair of channel members, said plates providing a guide through which the blade is adapted for slidable movement, said channel members providing a casing for concealing the blade when in an extended position, said channel members further adapted to provide a handle for the blade when in a folded position, and means for locking the sections in either position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MANUEL HIOKMAN. 

